Electric vibrator massage-machine.



W. l. A. KUEHL'.

AELECTRIC VIBR-ATOR MASSAGE MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED mm2. 1911.

1,255,895. Patented Feb.12l,1918.

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WILLIAM J. AJKUEHL, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC VIBRATOR MASSAGE-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Application led March 2, 1917. Serial No. 152,018.

To all whom t may concern."

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. A. KUEHL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inV Electric Vibrator Massage-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Many different types of motor driven and magnetic vibrators or massage machines have K been constructed, but this invention contemplates the construction of a vibrator massage machine of the' magnetic type wherein an improved arrangementof the mechanisms is secured by utilization and assembly of the elements of the construction in a novel manner.

It is an object therefore of this invention to construct a vibrator massage machine employing an electromagnet to oscillate an armature bar for imparting a vibratory movement to an applicator.

It is also an object Aof this invention to construct a magnetic type of vibratory massage machine wherein -a movable armature bar is mounted upon a long resilient element for oscillation toward and away from an electromagnet, said armature bar adapted to carry therewith in its movement, an arm on the end of whichA an applicator is mounted.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to construct a vibratory massage ina- 4chine wherein the applicator is secured tea.

vibratory armature bar.

It is an important object of this invention to construct a vibrator wherein an applicator is secured to and simultaneously operatable with an adjustable spring controlled electromagnetically operatable armature bar.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive electric massage 'machine wherein the vibrating elements vare adjustable and electrically and mechanically controlled.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the drawings and specification.

The invention (ina preferred form)` is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

'Fig'. 2, with In the drawings: I Figure l is a central vertical section taken `loi'igitudinally.th'rou h an electric vibrator vmassage machine em Y odying the principles p f my invention, with parts 'shown in' elevaion. Fig. 2 is a rear 'view thereof with the rear cap. removed, and showing the handle in section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lowerend of the handle of the device, showing the switch ring in section.

Fig. 5 is aview taken on line 5 5, of

parts omitted.

As shown on the drawin 0s:

The casing of the device consists of a cylindrical central shell 'or middle casing section l, having an opening in the lower central portion thereof, while the margins thereof are provided with a plurality of small apertures adapted to register with similar apertures provided in the rim or margin of a' front cap 2, and a, rear cap 3, respectively, said registering apertures adapted for receiving small screws 4, for holding the caps in position withtheir rims fitting inside of the inargins` of the casing 1, as clearly shown in F ig. 1. Each 0f said caps 2 and 3, is provided with a number of Ventilating apertures 5, 'and with a circumferential bead 6, to limit its insertion into the casing l.

Mounted within the lower half of the casing l,- is a metal U-shaped, or semi-circular frame or yoke 7, provided with an integral wall 8, at the frontgside thereof, while the rear and top of 'said yoke 7, are open. e The wall 8, at the central portion thereof has integrally formed thereon an outwardly projecting housin 9, affording a recess 10, 'on the inside o the yoke, in which is mounted an upwardly and inwardly curved spring, metal strap or resilient supporting bracket 11, the'lower end of which is apertured to permitan attaching bolt or rivet 12, to project therethrough F ig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3, of

and through a suitable aperture provided housing 9, near the upper end thereof, is

an externally and internally threaded bus ingor errule 13, adapted to securely hold the cap 2, against the housing of the yoke 7. Threaded into the bushing 13, is an adjusting screw bolt or set screw 14, the inner end of which contacts the spring 11, and is adapted to be threaded inwardly or outwardly through the bushing 13, to lower or raise the upper inwardly bent portion of the spring 11. Rigidly secured by means of rivets 15, or other suitable means to the lower side of the upper end of the spring 11, and at right angles thereto is an armature bar or plate 16, while mounted at right angles to said armature bar upon the upper side of the upper end of the spring 11, and having its inner end rigidly held in position by said rivets 15, is a vibrator rod 17, the outer end of which projects outwardly from the casing 1, through a large aperture 18, provided for the purpose in the front cap 2, to permit an applicator 19, of any desired style or shape to be removably attached to the outer end thereof.

'1`he upper ends of the yoke 7, are notched, formed or cut away to afford integral upwardly projecting rear projections 20, and front projections 21, each of which are provided with suitable apertures 0r drillings adapted to permit a bolt orrrivet22, to pro,- ject through each pair of saidl projections 20 and 21, and laterally through the upward ly directed ends of a laminated U-shaped solenoid core or electromagnet core 23, the ends of which are suitably formed to it between the respective yoke projections 20 and 21, below the ends of the armature bar 16, to rigidly hold the corer 23, in position. An insulated copper wire is helically wound around the core 23, to form a solenoid coil or magnetizing coil 24, the ends 25 and 26, of which project downwardly and are l threaded through an externallythreaded cythreaded into an internally lindrical coupling 27. which projects through the aperture provided in the lower portion of the casing 1, and has one end lremovably threaded collar 28, integrally formedl in the lower central portion of the yoke 7.

The lower end of the coupling 27, has rigidly threaded thereon one end of a hollow handle 29, made of wood or other suitable material. is of reduced diameter as denoted by the numeral 30, and has rotatably mounted thereon an insulating switch ring 31, made of hard rubber or other suitable material, the outer rim of which is knurled to permit rotation thereof. A slot 32` is provided in the switch ring 31, into which projects one end of a pin 33, which is rigidly Secured in the handle extension 30, to afford a means for limiting the movement of said ring. Permanently secured in a suitable recess on the inner periphery of the ring 31, opposite The other end of said handle 29,.

the slot 32, is a curved metal strip 34, adapted when the switch ring 31', is rotated to close an electric circuit by connecting electric terminals 35 and 36, spaced a short distance apart and projecting through the handle extension 30. Attached to the inner end of the terminal 35, is the end of the wire 25. while the end of the wire 26, is connected to the end 37, of a connecting cord projecting into the handle extension 30, said connecting cord having its other end 38, attached to the terminal 36, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, thus establishing a circuit, when the connecting strip 34, is moved to connect the terminals 35 and 36, from a source of electrical power through the cord wire 37, the wire 26, through the coil 24, the wire 25, and terminal 35, through the switch strip 34, terminal 36, and out through the cord wire 38. To hold the switch ring 31, in position, a hollow handle cap 39, suitably recessed is fitted over the handle extension 30, and is removably held thereon by retaining screws 40, thus rotatably holding the switch ring 31, between the lower end of the handle 2.9, and the inner end of the handle cap 39. To prevent heat generated by the coil 24, from being transmitted to the lower` portion of the casing 1, an asbestos mat 41, is disposed within said casing 1, around the yoke 7. The operation is as follows: When the vibrator massage machine is not in use the switch ring 31, and the handle are in the relative positions shown in Fig. 3, that is, with the switch in open position. If it is desired to operate the machine, the machine cord is attached to a suitable light socket and by rotating the switch ring 31, the metal strip 34, connects across the terminals 35 and 36, thus establishing an electric circuit through the cord wire 38, the terminal 36, through the switch ring strip 34, the terminal 35,wire 25, and through the solenoid coil 24, outV to the source of power through the wire 26, and the cord wire 37.

The electric alternating current paing through the coil 24, energizes the same and magnetizes the laminated solenoid core 23, thereby attracting the armature bar 16, which by such attraction draws the upper end of the spring l11, and the inner end of the rod 17, downwardly'wh'ereby the spring 11, is stressed and the applicator 19, is slightly moved upwardly or away from the spring 11. Since analternating current energizes the coil 24, the polarity of the ends o the solenoid core 23, continuously alternates, thereby permitting the stressed spring 11, at each change in polarity to withdraw the armature bar 16, away from the core 23, thus establishing al continuous vibrating motion to the armature bar 16, and an oscillating 4movement to the applicator 19. which may be used for massage purposes. By threading the adjusting bolt 14, inwardly or outwardly the u per endA of the spring 11, is moved towar or away from the solenoid core 23, thus affording a means for regulating the intensity of the oscillations of the applicator 19. l

Due to the manner in which the elements are constructed and assembled within the` the current is left on for a considerable length of time.

I am aware that various details of construction may be varied through Aa wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent 'granted otherwise than necessltated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention;

1. An electric vibrator comprising a casing, a yoke therein having side and end walls, an electro-magnet secured between the side walls, a spring having one end projecting into the yoke and rigidl secured to the end Wall and the other end irected between and above the sidewalls, an armature secured to the under side of the spring having its ends normally out of contact with the yoke and adapted to be d-rawn against the yoke, and a vibrator secured to the spring on the opposite side. from the armature plate.

2. An electric vibrator comprlsmg a casing, a yoke member therein having oppositely disposed arms, an electro-magnet rigidly secured between the yoke arms, a housing integral with the yoke arms, a spring bent substantially at right angles having one end projecting over the electro-magnet, an armature plate secured to the spring on one side and a vibrator arm secured to the spring opposite the armature plate and projecting t rough the wall of the casing.

3. An electric vibrator comprising a casing, a yoke member therein having oppositely disposed arms, an electro-magnet rigidly secured between the yoke arms, a housing integral with the yoke arms, a spring bent substantially at right angles having one end projecting over the electro-magnet, an armature plate secured to the spring on one Side' and a vibrator arm secured to the spring opposite the armature plate and pro'ecting through the wall of the casing, a andle rigidly securing the yoke to the casing and a heat resisting member between the yoke and casing through which the handle projects. L

4. An electric massage machine comprising a casing, a yoke member having oppositely disposed arms, an electro-magnet secured to said arms, a spring rigidly secured in the casing having a free arm extending over the electro-magnet, an armature plate secured to the spring adapted upon energization of the electro-magnet to contact both yoke arms, a vibrator arm secured to the spring and means for adjusting the spring for varying the vibration.

. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. A. vKUEHL. Witnesses:

CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr., EARL M. HARDINE. 

